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His thugs took their place behind hi on a posture of invulnerability and arrogance There was also so on with mild interest She had waves of unkempt blond hair filled with nettles and thorns, skin so tan it was difficult to deter around her neck Mary found the girl's cool gaze lare

"I'sy said in a voice that would forever crack between octaves, having not finished changing while he was alive

"I' no pleas of sy shifted unco armchair

"What have you done with ray suit spoke up "Who said you could ask questions?" But Pugsy put up his hand to silence hie until I decide what to do with theht be fun to chain you to the center of the Ferris wheel and watch you go round and round What do you think?"

Mary fought back her urge to scold hihly vile little urchin, and instead offered him her kindest smile

"Coo is above such pettiness You must realize I'm far ave hiht If he hadn't realized it before, he was ready to consider it now Here was the chance Mary had hoped for!

"You've built quite a civilization here in Chicago," Mary told hiratulated"

"Flattery fro from me!" He chuckled softly, and his henchmen took it as their cue to chuckle loudly

"Do not call me that," she said, forcefully but respectfully "My nahtower, and it is the only nasy, with an air of disgust in his voice "So are you gonna tell me why you trespassed on my property?"

"I believe it's best if we discuss s looked ready to stand their ground, and Mary noticed the girl in the corner ssy looked to his thugs "Send us up to the top, and wait for round," he told them

"Yes, boss," they said, ever obedient

Then he turned to the girl "Why don't you go skinjack soet today's sports scores"

It was the first thing that Pugsy said that really caught Mary by surprise

"Whatever you say," said the girl with a toss of her crazy, nettle-nested hair, then she sauntered out behind the three thugs, eyeing Mary all the way

In a e car began a long, slow arc up and away

"You trust a skinjacker?" Mary asked hisy, "she comes in very useful--no matter what you say in your books"

"So, you've read my books, then?"

"Only what I could stomach"

"You should atteested "I've shared all the things I've discovered here--all the things I know"

"Yeah, well I know things too"

Pugsy stood up and went to ato admire the view Mary kneasn't very tall, but she didn't realize how short and stocky he was until he stood up

"So now that we're alone, are you gonna tell me why you're here?"

Mary decided to take the direct approach "I propose an alliance between you and me A partnership between equals"

That estured out theat his vast land holdings "I have no need to look," she said "My view frorand as yours"

"Oh," said Pugsy, "but this view is priceless"

Finally Mary looked They had just crested the peak of the Ferris wheel, and as they began the journey doard, the car next to them came into view To Mary's horror, it was packed with children--Mary's children--every last one of them They had been packed into that car like sardines This is what Pugsy sy "Afterlights can fit into whatever space you want them to All ninety-three of yours are in there"

Mary couldn't find words to express her disgust

"So you see," said Pugsy "I hold all the chips You gotta do whatever I say, or they're the ones that'll suffer"

Mary sed her urge to slap hi sure all her words had ti ine"

"Is that so?" He sneered